Christina Roki was a pre-teen in Michigan when she first jumped into the motoring life. A decade ago, when Roki’s mom’s car conked out, she picked up a wrench and got to work. While those first repairs weren’t easy, the school of hard knocks and busted knuckles imparted valuable lessons.
Roki’s love for all things automotive set her on a STEM path through high school and college. She’s now working toward double bachelor’s degrees in computer science and mechanical engineering.
Over the years, she’s worked on an impressive string of import builds, gaining millions of followers on Instagram - opens in new window or tab. and TikTok - opens in new window or tab.. Then, this past spring, Dodge and MotorTrend posed a magical question to Roki: If we gave you a 797-horsepower Hellcat Redeye drivetrain and $10,000 for the build, what car would you use for the swap?
The answer to that question led to Roki’s starring role in the eBay Motors Experience at SEMA 2022 - opens in new window or tab. in Las Vegas.
Roki had never worked with a domestic brand, but Dodge is from her hometown—none other than Motor City. Her answer to Dodge and MotorTrend was straightforward. Find an inexpensive late-model Challenger and execute the ultimate upgrade for the Mopar or No Car crowd.
Roki said:
This was a perfect opportunity. I was geeked for it.
Swapping out the 2010 Challenger R/T’s tired old HEMI for a snarling new Hellcat Redeye crate engine - opens in new window or tab. opened the door to MotorTrend’s Roadkill Nights on Woodward and, ultimately, the eBay Motors Experience in Vegas next week.
Building the Champagne Pink Beast
Roki worked with Performance Lab Detroit to finesse the Hellcat Redeye manual drivetrain and 15-inch rear cradle into her high-mileage automatic 2010 Challenger R/T. Switching to high-octane E85 fuel - opens in new window or tab. allowed Georgia-based Dusterhoff Tuning - opens in new window or tab. to add 200 horsepower. Switching from unleaded premium to E85 enables tuners to quickly create more horsepower with a forced induction engine via tuning software and larger fuel injectors.
The 1,000-horsepower budget build took a month—with one day for the folks at Future Wraps to wrap the car in champagne pink. The next step? Put the beast to the test at Roadkill Nights on Woodward Avenue.
A winning run on the drag strip is all about the launch. Although Roki had two years of experience with manual transmissions, she’d never drag-raced before. After experimenting with adding extra weight in the trunk, Roki found her launch mojo.
Roki equipped the Challenger with Mickey Thompson Street Radials - opens in new window or tab., lightweight Forgestar F14 Beadlock wheels - opens in new window or tab., and Viking Performance double-adjustable shocks - opens in new window or tab.. The team installed a clutch tamer and line lock - opens in new window or tab., both crucial for a speedy launch. But time was tight, and there was none to spare before the event. Neither was operational.
A bit of skill goes a long way in a 500-foot grudge match. Although Roki stalled on her first two practice launches, on her competition runs, they were solid.
The Laundry List
Fitting the Hellcat Redeye drivetrain into the Challenger required a long list of upgrades. The manual shifter placement under the dash was particularly tricky. The team solved the issue with a Ford Bronco gear banger. A triple disc clutch, one-piece driveshaft, and billet differential brace - opens in new window or tab. get all the power to the street slicks - opens in new window or tab., while the added Brembo Hellcat front brakes - opens in new window or tab. haul it down.
These upgrades paved the way for using E85:
In addition, the crew upgraded the engine components with the following:
- 15 percent lower and 2.72 upper pulleys
Where It’s Headed
After the SEMA Show, it’s right back to college for Roki, where she’s on track to graduate next spring. So there’s lots more on the way.
Roki said:
I would love to keep following this path while inspiring others, especially females, to pursue a STEM degree and the automotive industry.
The automotive industry is in the midst of massive change. Switching genres is always cool.
I love my cheap cars, and I love JDM. But hopefully, I can branch out to supercars and learn how to work on those. I’d love to dive into hybrid systems and electric vehicles because that is where the future’s going. What better way to show the car enthusiasts that they are fun than by creating content and modifying them?
Want to see what it takes to turn a tired old T/A into a pavement-scorching 1,000-horsepower Hellcat Redeye, with a donated drivetrain, $10,000 to finish the build, and a lotta elbow grease? Check out Christina’s Champagne Pink Hellcat Redeye Challenger in person at the SEMA 2022 eBay Motors Experience - opens in new window or tab. in Las Vegas, November 1-4.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.